Award-winning Curado DC reels now at tackle shops

LADSON, S.C. – A much anticipated fishing reel, Shimano’s award-winning Curado DC baitcasting reels, are now available at select tackle shops in both the U.S. and Canada. Utilizing a microcomputer to automatically control brake force at every moment of the cast, the new Curado DC’s are built upon a reel already known for its durability, dependability, and versatility, and will quickly allow all anglers - from the most avid tournament angler to those intimidated by baitcasting reels and the backlashes that can happen - to cast smarter by allowing the DC’s microcomputer to monitor spool speed 1,000 times every second and apply the perfect amount of brake to minimize backlashes and maximize distance. Winner of the ICAST 2018 New Product Showcase ‘Best Freshwater Reel’ award, the DC series includes the Curado DC150 and left-hand retrieve DC151 with 6.2:1 gear ratios, the Curado DC150HG and DC151HG with 7.4:1 gear ratios, and the even higher speed Curado DC150XG and DC151XG with 8.5:1 gear ratios.

“The Curado DC reels appeal to skill levels among all anglers,” said Shimano product planning manager Trey Epich. “While everyone from bass anglers to those using the DC reels in saltwater for redfish and speckled trout will appreciate how the reel curtails backlashes, those tournament pros or avid weekend anglers, already accomplished with a baitcasting reel, will quickly discover the added ability to skip docks without overruns and bomb out long casts farther than ever thought possible. Tech-head anglers will focus on the DC technology and that cool noise the reels make with each cast. For us at Shimano, we’re excited to offer those who have been intimidated by baitcasters a new level of fishing with a reel they can easily learn to cast, and spend time fishing not picking out backlashes.”

A good number of tackle shops reported their initial shipments of Curado DC reels had already been purchased before Shimano started to ship them. “We put a tremendous amount of work behind the launch of these new reels,” said Shimano marketing manager Kurt Mazurek. “Winning the best new reel award at ICAST put a big exclamation point on all our efforts, and we’ll be anxious to hear from anglers what they like best about the digital controls and how it enhances their fishing. For one thing - we know they’ll be picking out less backlashes and spending more time fishing.”

All six DC reels will hold from l50 yards of 20-pound test and up to 105 yards of 40-pound test standard PowerPro braid, or up to 120 yards of 10-pound test and up to 90 yards of 14-pound test mono. The DC 150/151 cranks in 26 inches of line per rotation, while the DC150HG/151HG reels in 31-inches per crank. With a slightly longer 48mm handle length (compared to 45mm handles on other models), the DC150XG/151XG blisters in 36 inches of line per crank. All the reels pay homage to their Curado roots with green accents on the handle and spool. They all retail for $249.99 (USD).